Use the Summary area below to collaborate with your group to create your summary of the connections between white privilege, the colorblind perspective, and social dominance theory.
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Note: You don't need to sign your work or indicate which sections you contributed; your facilitator can see your contributions in the history of the page. Your group summary should demonstrate your collaboration rather than being a collection of unconnected individual ideas. When your group decides that the summary is finished, have one group member remove "(Draft)" below so your facilitator will know that it is ready for review.
I put this in paragraph form. I think one person needs to still respond but it is Monday already. Let me know what you think and we'll tell Susan we are finished. (Andrea)
Thanks Andrea! I think the paragraph reflects all of our inputs. I am vacationing on the West coast, and I have had internet issues. I think we only need Darie's ok. (I thought there were four in our group, but there is only three of us.) Would you mind removing the word "draft" before the 12:00 deadline since I am on the West Coast? Thanks. Kim
There are many ways in which we see the relationship between the Colorblind Perspective and the Social Dominance Theory. Whites never have to think about their skin color. From the perspective of a White person, White reality is the "norm" not the exception. White Social Dominance (Social Dominance Theory) affords Whites the ability to live w/o thinking about their race. Colorblindness is a perspective or "asset" only Whites have the advantage of claiming because of our dominant social position. Whites are the only ones in a position to completely brush aside the issue of race by saying that it does not matter. Colorblindness is not the answer! Acknowledging race/skin color is important for it affords ALL of us the affirmation we need and therefore seek. Whites have taken this affirmation for granted. An "invisible asset. "Whites believe that they are the superior race; some consciously, many unconsciously. This has been ingrained (a deeply ingrained entitlement) due to Whites' consistent and unspoken dominant social position around the globe. For many white people the superiority of their race is unquestionable; they will bring historical and recent arguments to the table and challenge any different views as political correctness gone wrong. Whites never view these common everyday realities as "privileges." They are taken for granted. Because of their socially dominant position throughout the ages and resulting ingrained superiority, Whites seem at times incapable of validating other cultures, even in countries where they are the minority race. For Whites, race is never a qualifier when being praised for a "job well done."
Summary
To begin summarizing I thought it might be good to complie a list things of ideas we seem to hold in common. Once agreed upon, we can compose a summary paragraph. Feel free to add or modify! Kim
1. Whites never have to think about their skin color. From the perspective of a White person, White reality is the "norm" not the exception. White Social Dominance (Social Dominance Theory) affords Whites the ability to live w/o thinking about their race. (I think this is our "big idea" -- what do you think?) Andrea- I think this is a great "big idea". It definitely relates to my life.
Agree this can be our main idea.
2. Colorblindness is a perspective or "asset" only Whites have the advantage of claiming became of our dominant social position. Whites can claim "race doesn't matter." Andrea- Yes we say this but we do really see color.
Not sure it it's an advantage to be able to say that - it might be proof of ignorance about the way the world works. I would put this a slightly different way: whites are the only ones in a position to completely brush aside the issue of race by saying that it does not matter. This can happen because of argument 1 in this list.
You are right. I worded this poorly. Kim
3. Whites believe that they are the superior race. Some consciously; many unconsciously. This has been ingrained (a deeply ingrained entitlement) due to Whites' consistent and unspoken dominant social position around the globe.
Important idea indeed. For many white people the superiority of their race is unquestionable; they will bring historical and recent arguments to the table and challenge any different views as political correctness gone wrong.
4. Colorblindness is not the answer! Acknowledging race/skin color is important for it affords ALL of us the affirmation we need and therefore seek. Whites have taken this affirmation for granted. An "invisible asset."
5. Whites never view these common everyday realities as "privileges." Taken for granted.
6. Because of their socially dominant position throughout the ages and resulting ingrained superiority, Whites seem at times incapable of validating other cultures, even in countries where they are the minority race.
7. For Whites, race is never a qualifier when being praised for a "job well done."
One more member of our group needs to post, so the list of common thoughts is possibly incomplete. My list is very rough; just a first stab, so add, modify, etc! Kim
Andrea- I think this is great. Once everyone comments, we can put it together so it flows into a paragraph. Thanks Kim!
Andrea Oliver
1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.
2. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.
3. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to “the person in charge”, I will be facing a person of my race.
4. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having coworkers on the job suspect that I got it because of race.
5. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help my race will not work against me.
I chose these privileges because I never thought before how easy I have it. I am around White people most of the day. There is one Black person in my school and I may encounter her for less than five minutes each day. Other than that, I only see people of Color if I go out shopping or out to eat. When I turn on the television, I see mainly Whites. I never realized or thought about people of Color not seeing the same on television as often as I do. I can relate to many celebrities or newscasters on the TV. I have only had bosses that are White. In addition, I have never thought about my race when getting a job. I have always thought about being hired because of my personality, education, and skills. Finally, when I need legal or medical help, most of the people I have encountered are White. I have never in my life thought about my race working against me in this area. People of color and Whites have different experiences so it is difficult to understand each other and our backgrounds. The privileges I listed have been normal everyday thoughts to me so I never viewed them as privileges. I understand how a person of Color sees these as white privileges because they don’t have these luxuries. I used to preach that I was colorblind because I treated everyone the same. But in society, we aren’t all the same. Not everyone has the privileges I do. With the colorblind perspective, Whites are the normal dominant people.
1. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization,” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.
2. Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of my financial reliability.
3. I can swear, or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race.
4. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.
5. I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color who constitute the world’s majority without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
I have not realized before how widespread this idea of white people being ‘better’ is. The ‘we civilized your people long time ago, so have some respect!’ discourse comes up in so many different situations in which white culture (especially when it is a minority) faces the culture of another race. Racism in this respect has little to do with power in terms of dominance over the other culture – after all whites are an insignificant minority in Asia (where I am right now) but they still bring down the full force of their culture when interacting with local people. So I see this as a sense of deeply ingrained entitlement that does not need daily reinforcement anymore. We don’t need to be reminded that we are better than everyone else… we just believe that we are.
The privilege of not having to be considered an exponent of my race every time I do something positive is another little revelation I had after reading the article. I have often seen non-whites applauded for their actions as if they were an unusual representative of their otherwise underperforming race. It must be tremendously offending to the people we are trying to praise, because it effectively tells them they are very good for a person of color.
Finally, the power to ignore local customs and traditions without being sanctioned is one I see every day in my expat community. People who take pride in the fact that they don’t speak a word of Chinese even though they have lived here for 3-4-5 years. People who see no benefits in learning about Chinese culture because ‘they just copied everything from us anyway’. These are just a few examples that can be encountered easily in the expat community here in China.
The following are the five White privileges listed by Peggy McIntosh that most stand out to me:
1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.
2. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.
3. I can easily buy posters, post-cards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and magazines featuring people of my race.
4. I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color, who constitute the world’s majority, without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
5. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization,” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.
I chose these five White privileges from McIntosh’s list because I was struck by the way in which throughout my lifetime they have affirmed who I am. These privileges have validated my place in the world without me being consciously aware of it. This constant affirmation, this “invisible package of unearned assets,” (McIntosh) is something I have totally taken for granted. All of these privileges in my life have been unconsciously assumed. I am never surprised by them. In fact, I am only surprised when due to a rare exception I encounter a Person of Color in this list of privileges. As McIntosh writes, I’ve been conditioned to view my life as “morally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal” (“White Privilege”). After reading McIntosh’s list, I realized how I’ve never had to worry about navigating my culture because in my reality it has been the culture, the dominant one, the one that was “normal,” whereas People of Color in America have historically had to navigate White culture along with their own. People of Color in America have always had to be conscious of race. As a White woman, I have never had to consider race. Because of this privilege, I have assumed that being colorblind was something all races could and should practice! McIntosh’s article, along with other readings, has made it clear to me that because of the social dominance of Whites in America People of Color cannot consciously choose to be colorblind because they are impacted daily by the color or their skin. Self-inflicted colorblindness is another “advantage” only Whites have! I have come to realize through this exercise that just like my race is an integral part of my identity, one that throughout my lifetime has been validated, People of Color need to have their race recognized and affirmed for healthy identity development, not ignored. My colorblind perspective, an individual moral attempt on my part to treat people equally, has been an undeniable indicator of my unwillingness to acknowledge the ugly truth of White social dominance in America. (Kim Douglas)
Home > Activity 4-A-3: White Privilege > Group B
Instructions:
Note:
You don't need to sign your work or indicate which sections you contributed; your facilitator can see your contributions in the history of the page. Your group summary should demonstrate your collaboration rather than being a collection of unconnected individual ideas. When your group decides that the summary is finished, have one group member remove "(Draft)" below so your facilitator will know that it is ready for review.
I put this in paragraph form. I think one person needs to still respond but it is Monday already. Let me know what you think and we'll tell Susan we are finished. (Andrea)
Thanks Andrea! I think the paragraph reflects all of our inputs. I am vacationing on the West coast, and I have had internet issues. I think we only need Darie's ok. (I thought there were four in our group, but there is only three of us.) Would you mind removing the word "draft" before the 12:00 deadline since I am on the West Coast? Thanks. Kim
There are many ways in which we see the relationship between the Colorblind Perspective and the Social Dominance Theory. Whites never have to think about their skin color. From the perspective of a White person, White reality is the "norm" not the exception. White Social Dominance (Social Dominance Theory) affords Whites the ability to live w/o thinking about their race. Colorblindness is a perspective or "asset" only Whites have the advantage of claiming because of our dominant social position. Whites are the only ones in a position to completely brush aside the issue of race by saying that it does not matter. Colorblindness is not the answer! Acknowledging race/skin color is important for it affords ALL of us the affirmation we need and therefore seek. Whites have taken this affirmation for granted. An "invisible asset. "Whites believe that they are the superior race; some consciously, many unconsciously. This has been ingrained (a deeply ingrained entitlement) due to Whites' consistent and unspoken dominant social position around the globe. For many white people the superiority of their race is unquestionable; they will bring historical and recent arguments to the table and challenge any different views as political correctness gone wrong. Whites never view these common everyday realities as "privileges." They are taken for granted. Because of their socially dominant position throughout the ages and resulting ingrained superiority, Whites seem at times incapable of validating other cultures, even in countries where they are the minority race. For Whites, race is never a qualifier when being praised for a "job well done."
Summary
To begin summarizing I thought it might be good to complie a list things of ideas we seem to hold in common. Once agreed upon, we can compose a summary paragraph. Feel free to add or modify! Kim
1. Whites never have to think about their skin color. From the perspective of a White person, White reality is the "norm" not the exception. White Social Dominance (Social Dominance Theory) affords Whites the ability to live w/o thinking about their race. (I think this is our "big idea" -- what do you think?) Andrea- I think this is a great "big idea". It definitely relates to my life.
2. Colorblindness is a perspective or "asset" only Whites have the advantage of claiming became of our dominant social position. Whites can claim "race doesn't matter." Andrea- Yes we say this but we do really see color.
3. Whites believe that they are the superior race. Some consciously; many unconsciously. This has been ingrained (a deeply ingrained entitlement) due to Whites' consistent and unspoken dominant social position around the globe.
4. Colorblindness is not the answer! Acknowledging race/skin color is important for it affords ALL of us the affirmation we need and therefore seek. Whites have taken this affirmation for granted. An "invisible asset."
5. Whites never view these common everyday realities as "privileges." Taken for granted.
6. Because of their socially dominant position throughout the ages and resulting ingrained superiority, Whites seem at times incapable of validating other cultures, even in countries where they are the minority race.
7. For Whites, race is never a qualifier when being praised for a "job well done."
One more member of our group needs to post, so the list of common thoughts is possibly incomplete. My list is very rough; just a first stab, so add, modify, etc! Kim
Andrea- I think this is great. Once everyone comments, we can put it together so it flows into a paragraph. Thanks Kim!
Andrea Oliver
I chose these privileges because I never thought before how easy I have it. I am around White people most of the day. There is one Black person in my school and I may encounter her for less than five minutes each day. Other than that, I only see people of Color if I go out shopping or out to eat. When I turn on the television, I see mainly Whites. I never realized or thought about people of Color not seeing the same on television as often as I do. I can relate to many celebrities or newscasters on the TV. I have only had bosses that are White. In addition, I have never thought about my race when getting a job. I have always thought about being hired because of my personality, education, and skills. Finally, when I need legal or medical help, most of the people I have encountered are White. I have never in my life thought about my race working against me in this area.
People of color and Whites have different experiences so it is difficult to understand each other and our backgrounds. The privileges I listed have been normal everyday thoughts to me so I never viewed them as privileges. I understand how a person of Color sees these as white privileges because they don’t have these luxuries. I used to preach that I was colorblind because I treated everyone the same. But in society, we aren’t all the same. Not everyone has the privileges I do. With the colorblind perspective, Whites are the normal dominant people.
1. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization,” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.
2. Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of my financial reliability.
3. I can swear, or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race.
4. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.
5. I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color who constitute the world’s majority without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
I have not realized before how widespread this idea of white people being ‘better’ is. The ‘we civilized your people long time ago, so have some respect!’ discourse comes up in so many different situations in which white culture (especially when it is a minority) faces the culture of another race. Racism in this respect has little to do with power in terms of dominance over the other culture – after all whites are an insignificant minority in Asia (where I am right now) but they still bring down the full force of their culture when interacting with local people. So I see this as a sense of deeply ingrained entitlement that does not need daily reinforcement anymore. We don’t need to be reminded that we are better than everyone else… we just believe that we are.
The privilege of not having to be considered an exponent of my race every time I do something positive is another little revelation I had after reading the article. I have often seen non-whites applauded for their actions as if they were an unusual representative of their otherwise underperforming race. It must be tremendously offending to the people we are trying to praise, because it effectively tells them they are very good for a person of color.
Finally, the power to ignore local customs and traditions without being sanctioned is one I see every day in my expat community. People who take pride in the fact that they don’t speak a word of Chinese even though they have lived here for 3-4-5 years. People who see no benefits in learning about Chinese culture because ‘they just copied everything from us anyway’. These are just a few examples that can be encountered easily in the expat community here in China.
The following are the five White privileges listed by Peggy McIntosh that most stand out to me:
1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.
2. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.
3. I can easily buy posters, post-cards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and magazines featuring people of my race.
4. I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color, who constitute the world’s majority, without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
5. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization,” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.
I chose these five White privileges from McIntosh’s list because I was struck by the way in which throughout my lifetime they have affirmed who I am. These privileges have validated my place in the world without me being consciously aware of it. This constant affirmation, this “invisible package of unearned assets,” (McIntosh) is something I have totally taken for granted. All of these privileges in my life have been unconsciously assumed. I am never surprised by them. In fact, I am only surprised when due to a rare exception I encounter a Person of Color in this list of privileges. As McIntosh writes, I’ve been conditioned to view my life as “morally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal” (“White Privilege”). After reading McIntosh’s list, I realized how I’ve never had to worry about navigating my culture because in my reality it has been the culture, the dominant one, the one that was “normal,” whereas People of Color in America have historically had to navigate White culture along with their own. People of Color in America have always had to be conscious of race. As a White woman, I have never had to consider race. Because of this privilege, I have assumed that being colorblind was something all races could and should practice! McIntosh’s article, along with other readings, has made it clear to me that because of the social dominance of Whites in America People of Color cannot consciously choose to be colorblind because they are impacted daily by the color or their skin. Self-inflicted colorblindness is another “advantage” only Whites have! I have come to realize through this exercise that just like my race is an integral part of my identity, one that throughout my lifetime has been validated, People of Color need to have their race recognized and affirmed for healthy identity development, not ignored. My colorblind perspective, an individual moral attempt on my part to treat people equally, has been an undeniable indicator of my unwillingness to acknowledge the ugly truth of White social dominance in America. (Kim Douglas)